Tour 2015: Alexander Kristoff | Katusha

FACT FILE

Age: 27
Height: 183cm
Weight: 78kg
WT ranking: 8
Wins in 2015: 18
Career wins: 42
Days racing in 2015: 51
Tour stage wins: 2
KM raced in 2015: 8,403
Form rating: +++++

Alexander Kristoff has been the stand-out sprinter of a season in which he has so far amassed an impressive 16 victories. The versatile fastman may not be able to beat Marcel Kittel or Mark Cavendish in a 200m drag-race but his ability to climb should deliver at least one stage win at the Tour.

Kristoff had a breakthrough at the race last year, winning two stages and finishing second in the points classification behind Peter Sagan, in what was only his second race participation.
 

“I have learned I have this strong attack; I don’t always need to sit on the wheels,” he observed earlier this year.

The 27-year-old has continued that success in 2015. He was celebrated at the Spring Classics after winning the Tour of Flanders as well as Scheldeprijs, the latter in the absence of his major rivals, and consistently claimed stage victories before and after, including one at Paris-Nice.
 

Kristoff has worked well with his organised and now trusted Katusha sprint train. He and veteran Luca Paolini, who won Ghent-Wevelgem in March, have also formed a dynamic partnership.
 

Kristoff extended his contract with Katusha in spring — a confidence vote from the team.
 

The 2012 Olympic road race bronze medallist has experience withstanding the expectations of being a protected rider, which he will need to call on during his next major objective in France.
 

 

Key support
Rival Etixx-Quick Step sports director Brian Holm has questioned how much support Katusha will provide Kristoff in July.
 

Holm recently speculated that the squad may invest more in 36-year-old Joaquim Rodríguez and his overall goal at the race, which could hinder Kristoff’s green jersey ambitions. No team in recent times has achieved the jersey double.
 

Katusha general manager Viatcheslav Ekimov said his outfit would have two groups to support each rider. “Balancing that can be challenging but I think it’s logical, at least in our team. The support group for each rider can help both our leaders,” Ekimov has said.